Pennsylvania Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog
Falls at nursing homes happen more frequently and repeatedly than we’d like to think, some with dire consequences. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1,800 older adults living in nursing homes die each year from injuries related to a fall. Those who survive a fall can sustain hip fractures and head injuries than can result in permanent disability and reduced quality of life.
Take for example the case of a man in Glen Carbon, Illinois whose estate filed a suit against the nursing home where the man was staying, claiming that several falls led to the man’s death.
An article on TheTelegraph.com quotes the suit as alleging, “The cause of death was a subdural hematoma; said medical condition was a direct result of multiple falls by the decedent, at the facility.” The suit also claims that the man required rehabilitation and assistance with daily living, and that the facility failed to care for the man “in a manner which maintained and enhanced his dignity and quality of life.”
According to the CDC, one way to help prevent falls in nursing homes is by educating staff about fall risk factors and prevention strategies. They also suggest making changes in the nursing home environment to make it easier for residents to move around safely. Our loved ones should be protected and kept safe from falls while in the care of a skilled nursing facility.
If you have a loved one in a nursing home that has suffered injuries from a fall, you may have a case. Contact the nursing home neglect attorneys at O’Connor Law for a free review of your case.